Gymnastic apparatus



March 21, 1933 R. A. EDWARDS 1,902,694

GYMNASTIC vAPPARATUS Filed Feb. 8, 1932 Z-Sheets-Sheet l y. I lh! .l a l] lhlnmHll l /1 u. SEEE- -:IEEE- March 21, 1933. R A' EDWARDS 1,902,694

GYMNAST I C APPARATUS Filed Feb, 8, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 2 @m1/1702 eid J4. Edwards g/y E f UNITED STATES Patented Mar. 21, 1933 PATENT OFFICE; i

REID EDWARDS, OF ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA i GYMNAsTic APPARATUS i Arpp'licatonrled VFebruary 8, 1932. Serial No. 591,599.

lMy present invention relates to; gymastic apparatus and has for its object the provision of an extremely simple and highly eiiicientV ly andy easily adjusted to it the person exercising thereon so as tosecure the maximum benefit therefrom. l v

I `To the above end, generallyv stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like" characters indi cate like parts throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus with the table attached; l

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus, as shown in F'ig. 1, and further illustrating, by means of broken lines, a woman lying on the apparatus with theexercising springs, indicated by full lines, attached to her feet,

r said springs allbeing illustrated in operative positions by means of broken lines Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus with the table removed and stored in the base, as indicated by means of broken lines, and with the seat and foot rest shown in different positions by means of broken lines; Y

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the `line 4-4 of Fig. 3; A

Fig. 5 `is a horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of one of the seat holding clamps, some parts being Y shown in full and `other parts being shown in horizontal section, on an enlarged scale; t

Fig. 7 isa fragmentary perspective view of the seat; Fig.` 8 is a `fragmentary perspective view of the table; andv Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail view with some parts sectioned on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale.

The improved gymnastic lapparatus includes abase 10, an archmember 11,a" seat 12, a table 13, afoot rest 14 and exercising springs 15. Said base 10 comprisesla'pair of cast side members 16 and front and rear 55 'cross-tie bars 17 only the latter ofwhich is shown. Thesides of the base members 16 have front -and rear short feet 18 provided with cushions or'pads 19 of rubber or any other suitable material. 'Cast' with the inner face of each'side member 16 are three longitudinally extended 'reinforcing flanges 20 that are vertically spaced, the one above the other. The opposing pairs of anges r20 afford a pair of upper channel guides 21 for 6 the footv rest 14 and a pair of lower channel guides 22 for holding the table 13, whennot in use, stored in the base 10. I" ,f

Webs 28cast with the rear ends of theside members 16 connect the ange's 2O and afford stops that limit'the sliding movement of the table 13 into the guides 22. f

The archV member 11 is formed" from sheet metal and the front and back' thereof, which extend transversely of the base 10, are rigidly secured, at their lower edge portions, to frontand rear pairs of upstanding anchor lugs 24 cast with the side membersfl and top flanges 20. The outer face of th'eback of the arch member 11 is substantially flush With'jthe rear ends of the side members 16 and the front of said member is spaced considerably rearward of the front ends'of the side'members 16, thus leaving a portion of the'base` lO'forward of the arch member 11.

' The seat 12 directly overlies the base`10, forf` ward of the arch memberll, and is rigidly se# cured at its sides tothe arms 25 of a U'shaped bar the transverse portion of which affordsua cross-tie member '26 for the arms 25,. The seat 12 is fitted between the `arms -25f vand which arms projectl rearwardly and outwardly of the arch member 11 and the cross-tie bar 26 extends completely through saidm'em'# ber.

The-arms 25 are rigidly but adjustably secured to a pair of fixed posts 27, each of which comprises a pair of upright bars that extend edgewise transversely of thecross-tie member 26. This cross-tie member engages the front faces of the posts 27 with freedom for vertical sliding movement thereon. Said cross-tie member 26 also aords the relatively fixed member of certain clamping means for securing the arms to the posts 27, as will Y to and of which the cross-tie member 26 forms a part, further include a pair of screw-studs 31to which are applied a pair of hand-pieceequipped nuts 32. The screw-studs 31 extend through the slots in the posts 27 and their front ends are anchored to the cross-tie member 26 -bythreaded engagement` therewith and nuts'33-appliedto said studs. Washers 34 on the studs 31 are interposed between the posts 27 and the nuts 32. Obviously the posts 27 afford bases of resistance for the nuts 32.

l The position ofthe seats 12 on the. arms 25 is such as to tend to tilt said arms forwardly and downwardly, particularly when there is a load on the seat 12, and cause a biting action between the cross-tie member 26 and the posts 27 that securely holds said member a-nd prevents the same from slipping on the posts 27. A pair of handles 35 in the form of loops are rigidly secured, oneto each of the arms 25.

AThe table 13 forms a forward extension of the seat 12, when raised to the height of said table, and is detachably secured at its rear end to said seat 12 by a pair of separable fasteners 36. EachY fastener 36 includes an apertured member 37 on the under side of f the seat 12Vand a yhook member 38 on the under side lofthe table 13. The hook members 38 are arranged to be interlocked with the apertured members 37 by a hinge-like movement of the table 13 with respect to lthe seat 12. A

pair of folding legs 39 support the outer rend of the table 13. Theselegs 39 are hinged at 40 to the table 13 for folding movement onto the under side thereof. Toggle braces 41 .between the table 13 and the legs 39 are provided for holding the legs 39 in operative positions. .When the table 13 is not in use its legs 39 may be folded thereunder and said table detached from the seat 12 and. stored in the base 10 by sliding the same into theguide grooves 24 from the front ends thereof.

The exercising springsl are tightly coiled and Vanchored at one of their ends to eye lugs 42- on the rear ends of the side members 16. Handles 43 in the form of loops are at tached to the free ends of the exercising springs 15. l/Vhen the'exercising springs 15 are not in use they may be held within the arch member 11 by a pair of hooks 44 secured to said member on the under side thereof.

The seat 12 and the table 13 are padded, as indicated by the numerals 45 and 46, reo spectively, and the arch member 11 is provided with a pad 47. This pad 47 extends over the top of the arch member .llbetween said arch member and the seat 12 and substantially completely covers` the front side of said arch member.

The foot rest 14 is slidably mounted in the guide grooves 22 and the top flanges 20 act as stops to limit the sliding movement of said foot rest into'the base 10.

'For the purpose of this case it will not be necessary to describe in detail lthe-benefits obtained by taking regular exercises -on the improved apparatus :and it will suflice to briefly state a few of the many different exercises that may be taken.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated by meansof lbroken lines, a woman lying on her back on theseat 12 and table 13 with her feet inserted through the handles 43 of the exercising springs 15.

By means of these springs l5 many different leg exercises may be taken. By turning around and reclining on the seat 12 andtable 13 with the head resting on the archv member 11 and grasping the handles 43 in the hands, Y

various arm exercises may be takenyior by detaching the table 13 yand sitting on the seat 12 when adjustedtothe proper height, in a reclining position over the arch member 11 and grasping the handles 43 in the hands, body and arm exercises may be taken. It is also possible to use the exercising springs when standing on the floor at the back of the apparatus.

A person may stand on his .head on the seat 12 while grasping the hand-les43 yand then roll over the arch member 11. Inrthisy use lof the apparatus it is highlyk important that the seat 12vbe adjusted tothe proper height with respect to the top of the :arch member 11, so as to it all persons regardless of build. When a personis seated-on the seat 12 when taking various different exercises a toe or foothold may be taken 'on the front rend of the foot rest 14 which, asshown, includes a pair of horizontal parallel rods.

The drawings illustrate a'commercial form of the invention,v but it will be understood that the same is capable of certain modifications as to details of'construction, arrangement and combination of parts within the scope of the invention herein disclosed.

What I claim is: s 1 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a base, an arch member, and a vertically adjustable seat on the base. '2.' In an apparatus ofthe class described, a base having an arch member, and a vertically adjustable seat in front of the arch.

3. 'Ihe structure defined in claim 2 in which the seat is provided with a pair of handles, one on each side thereof.

4. The structure defined in claim 2 which further includes a pad that extends over the top of the arch member and in front thereof adjacent to the seat.

5. In anapparatus of the class described, a base having an arch member, a pair of fixed ways under the arch member, a seat in front of the arch member and having a pair of rearwardly projecting arms, and clamping means for securing the arms to the ways in different Vertical adjustments.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a base having an arch member, a pair of posts under the arch member and each thereof having a vertical slot, a seat in front of the arch member and having a pair of rearwardly projecting arms, and clamping means for securing the arms to the posts in different vertical adjustments, said clamping means comprising a cross-tie member connectingvthe arms and extending through the arch member and contacting with the faces of the posts, screw-studs on the cross-tie member and extending through the slots in the posts, and hand-piece-equipped nuts on the studs, engaging the posts as bases of resistance and operable to frictionally clamp the cross-tie member onto the posts.

7. The structure defined in claim 2which further includes a foot rest mounted on the base for horizontal adjustment into an operative position in which it projects forward of the seat.

8. The structure defined in claim 2 which further includes a foot rest mounted on the base for horizontal adjustment into an operative position in which it projects forward of the seat or into an inoperative position in which it is substantially entirely under the seat and arch member.

9. The structure defined in claim 2 which further includes a pair of coiled exercising springs back of the arch member and anchored at one of their ends to the base and Vhaving handles on their free ends.

10. The structure defined in claim 2 which further includes a pair of coiled exercising springs back of the arch member and anchored at one of their ends to the base and having handles on their free ends, and means under the arch member for holding the exercising springs when not in use.

11. The structure defined in claim 2 which further includes a pair of coiled exercising springs back of the arch member and anchored at one of their ends to the base and having handles on their free ends, and hooks on the under side of the arch member with which the handles of the exercising springs may be interlocked to hold said springs when not in use.

12. In an apparatus of the class described,

ported from the base in front of the arch member, a table in front of the seat and supported at its rear end therefrom, and legs supporting the table at its front end.

13.`The structure defined in claim-12 in which the legs are foldable under the table. 14. The structure defined in claim 12 in which the table is detachable from the seat.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, a base having an arch member, a seat supported from the `base in front of the arch Inember, a table detachably supported from a seat in front of the arch member and hav ing a pair of rearwardly projecting arms, and clamping devices for securing the arms in different vertical adjustments and including a cross-tie member connecting `the arms.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature..

REID A. EDWARDS.

a base having an arch member, a seat sup- 

